Oath of Deception

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  He couldn’t believe this was Ari’s house. The place sort of smelled like her. Now that he knew she was Neco’s daughter, he could see the resemblance between the two of them. Once he was strong enough to walk on his own, he wanted to find her bedchamber. That wouldn’t be an invasion of privacy, would it? Maybe he could leave her a letter thanking her for her kindness, for saving him, and for being his friend. He had a feeling Nathenek wouldn’t approve, so he’d have to find a way to leave the letter without his father knowing. That would be a fun challenge.

  Savenek’s leg took a lot longer to fully heal than expected. Not only did the wound have to mend itself, but his muscles had to recover from the poison draining them. Savenek spent most days sitting on a chair facing a pasture. He found it peaceful there but missed Emperor’s City. Often times, he thought of Ari. What was she up to? Did she miss him?

  The manor was remote. Since there weren’t any towns nearby, they heard no news of what was going on with Russek and Emperion. When Savenek suggested his father travel to the nearest town for news, Nathenek said there was no point. All that mattered was making sure Savenek fully recovered.

  “When we return home, will I be allowed to take my vows and join the Brotherhood?” Savenek asked his father one evening while they played a game of cards next to the hearth.

  “You will take your vows, just not right now.”

  Savenek threw his cards on the table. After his mission to Apethaga, he felt more than ready. “If you won’t let me take my vows, then I want to join the army.” He’d fight for his kingdom one way or another. His father couldn’t stop him.

  “Didn’t you hear anything Neco said?” Nathenek leaned back on his chair, crossing his legs. “Emperion will need you when the war is over.”

  “We don’t even know how the war is going!” Savenek yelled. For all they knew, Emperion might not even be at war. Or they could have gone to war and lost to Russek already. Maybe Russek soldiers would march over the rise tomorrow and kill them.

  “When we return home, I will speak with the members of the Brotherhood. We will determine what course of action best suits not only your needs, but the needs of this kingdom. Understood?”

  Not really, but he nodded anyway. He had a feeling his father would never allow him to go off on his own again.

  Once Savenek was strong enough to walk, Nathenek started taking him outside to stroll around the pasture. The cool air and sun were a welcome change and greatly improved Savenek’s mood. Nathenek also made three large meals every day so Savenek could regain the weight he’d lost.

  After a month, Nathenek declared Savenek had recovered enough to resume his training. At first, all he did were some simple stretches and very light sparring to get his body back into shape. Then he gradually started working with swords that Nathenek found in the manor. The place had its own training room fully stocked with weapons. It rivaled the Brotherhood’s training facility. Often times, Savenek tried to imagine Ari learning to wield a sword and defend herself. It gave him some closure to see where she’d grown up. To have this small piece of her. Maybe it was better he’d never said goodbye. He still had difficulty reconciling the fact that Ari was Mayra.

  While Savenek enjoyed the peaceful location, after being there for two months, he was ready to return home. He needed to get back to the Brotherhood, needed the hustle and bustle of Emperor’s City, and he needed to get on with his life. He never did manage to write that letter to Ari. When he finally found some paper and sat down to write it, he didn’t know what to say. He kept picturing her long brown hair, her expressive eyes, and her smile. Blasted. She was Neco’s daughter. No wonder she didn’t think well of Savenek at first. He’d made a fool of himself numerous times.

  Thankfully, for the journey home, Nathenek let Savenek ride a horse instead of being sequestered in a carriage. They took it easy, traveling slowly, sleeping at night under the stars and talking about Savenek’s time in Apethaga.

  It was during those quiet nights that Nathenek shared some of the details about the mission he’d been on in Telmena. The Brotherhood suspected a group of assassins from Telmena had crossed into Emperion. Nathenek snuck into the Telmena court in Lumar to investigate. There, he discovered Telmena’s blatant hostility toward Emperion. The king constantly spoke of Telmena’s alliance with Fren and that he intended to block any and all negotiations between Fren and Emperion.

  While investigating further, Nathenek learned that Telmena had been corresponding with both Russek and Apethaga. He learned that Telmena had agreed to move supplies through their kingdom from Apethaga to Russek. Nathenek also uncovered a letter from Apethaga asking Telmena to assassinate the Emperion delegation that was coming to negotiate a weapons deal. Telmena had agreed and, in return, asked for a marriage alliance to secure a treaty between both kingdoms. Nathenek had planned on staying in Telmena longer; however, the Brotherhood called him back to Emperion. On his way home, word reached him that Savenek had been injured and was in Lakeside. He traveled there as quickly as he could.

  Savenek was relieved nothing had happened to his father. He couldn’t remember the last time Nathenek had been on a mission alone like that.

  After traveling a week on horseback, Savenek and Nathenek finally reached the stables where they kept their horses on the outskirts of Emperor’s City. After stabling their horses, they trekked the rest of the way to the city. Nathenek insisted they head straight home and rest before going to the Brotherhood. Even though Savenek felt fully recovered, he didn’t argue.

  Stepping into his house, he breathed in the familiar smell. It had been a long time since he had been here. He went into his room and sat on his bed. So much had changed in such a short amount of time.

  “I need to report to the Brotherhood,” Nathenek said, standing in the doorway to Savenek’s room. “Are you glad to be home, or did you enjoy your first taste of freedom?”

  Savenek chuckled. “I’m glad to be home. I know I don’t say this often, but I love you. Thanks for everything.” For raising him, training him, and being there for him. He was lucky to have Nathenek for a father.

  “I love you, too, son.” Nathenek’s voice sounded odd. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” He turned and left.

  Now that Savenek was home, there was something he needed to do.

  Walking along the streets in Emperor’s City was…strange. It felt so normal, familiar. However, after everything Savenek had been through in Apethaga, he saw things differently now. In Apethaga, the pristine palace and the immaculate city looked appealing; yet, evil lurked below the surface everywhere he turned. Even the beautiful flowers had been poisonous. So while Emperor’s City was crowded, dirty, bland, and loud, it was full of good people. And it was Savenek’s home. He understood the importance of defending this kingdom even more so now.

  He turned the corner, entering the market he’d been to many times before. Stopping a few carts away from Hana’s cart, he hid in the shadows, observing her. There she was, holding a jar of honey, a huge smile plastered on her vibrant face. She handed the honey over to the customer and took the woman’s money. Hana was beautiful in her own way. Full of life and energetic. But she wasn’t the woman for Savenek. His heart belonged to another—even if he could never have her.

  A young man approached the cart. Hana leaned forward and kissed the man on his lips. Savenek remained in the shadows, watching her. He wasn’t jealous. Obviously, she’d moved on. And how could Savenek blame her? He’d been gone for a full season. This was better than her sitting around pining over him.

  He considered going over and explaining what had happened, where he’d been. But what would be the point? He no longer wanted a relationship with Hana. It was best to just let her be. She deserved happiness, and Savenek hoped Hana found happiness with this new man.

  Smiling, he stepped out of the shadows and left the market, strolling along the streets in the city he called home. It was good to be back. As he walked through the city, the mood of the people a
round him started to change.

  A bell tolled in the distance, announcing something. “What’s going on?” Savenek asked a man passing by.

  “Don’t know. The empress and emperor have been staying here at this palace for the past couple of weeks. They’re probably just going to speak publicly or something.” The man shrugged and walked away, unconcerned.

  Savenek continued walking. The people around him became frantic. Some rushed inside their homes, slamming the doors and locking them. Vendors started shutting down their stands for the day even though it was early in the afternoon. Other people ran by crying. Savenek started jogging. Something was wrong, and whatever it was, it was bad. Maybe Russek had invaded Emperion. He ran faster.

  At the edge of the city, he sprinted up the hill leading to his house. He entered through the front door and bent over, heaving deep breathes. Nathenek was already standing in the middle of the sitting room, his face white and his eyes red.

  “What is it?” Savenek asked. Even if Emperion had been invaded, he couldn’t imagine his father reacting this way.

  “Allyssa is dead.” Nathenek sat on the sofa, rubbing his face.

  “What?”

  Nathenek looked at Savenek. “The princess, Allyssa, is dead.”

  “What happened?”

  “Russek kidnapped and murdered her.”

  “How is that possible?” Savenek asked, his voice louder than necessary. She was the princess. Guarded and protected at all times. How could their enemy kidnap and murder her? Why hadn’t the Brotherhood done anything to stop it from happening?

  “An assassin snuck into the palace at Lakeside a couple of weeks ago. The royal family learned of the threat and was smuggled out. The empress and emperor came here to Emperor’s City while the princess was sent to Fren with Prince Odar. Along the way, the princess and prince’s carriage was overtaken by the Russek assassin who murdered everyone but the two of them and one of Allyssa’s personal guards—Mayra’s brother Marek. He managed to escape though he was severely injured. The assassin took Allyssa and Odar to Russek. King Drenton sent a ransom note to Empress Rema and Emperor Darmik. They refused to hand Emperion over to him, so he killed the princess.”

  Savenek rubbed his face. He couldn’t imagine having to make that choice—to choose the well-being of a kingdom over a family member. “Is Mayra okay?”

  Nathenek raised his eyebrows. “Did you seriously ask me about Mayra when I just told you the princess was murdered?”

  Well, when his father put it that way, it did sound a tad self-centered. But he wanted to make sure Ari was okay. “I assume we’re going to retaliate?”

  “We are. The Brotherhood has been called into action. The emperor is organizing troops. I never thought it would come to this.”

  “I want to fight,” Savenek said. With his skill set, he could help. And Emperion was going to need all the help it could get against those barbarians. The empress and emperor had sacrificed their own daughter to save their people. The least Savenek could do was join the soldiers willing to protect this kingdom.

  “I know you do.” Nathenek stood and started pacing. “But there are some things you need to know. The princess’s death changes everything.”

  Someone knocked on the door, and Nathenek went over and opened it. Two figures stood there, both wearing capes that concealed their identities. Without a word, Nathenek opened the door wider, admitting them. Savenek caught a glimpse of two more people who remained outside the house about fifteen feet away. He could have sworn they both had swords beneath their capes.

  Nathenek closed the door. Without knowing why, Savenek stood and waited for the people to speak. Who were they and why were they here? Somehow he knew they weren’t from the Brotherhood. The person on the right had to be a woman based upon her stature. Still hidden in the shadow of her hood, she reached up and wiped her face.

  The person on the left was taller, wider, and probably a man. He pushed his hood back revealing dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin—a rarity in Emperion. “I’m sure you’re wondering who we are,” the man said. His voice was deep and authoritative. Savenek glanced at his father. Nathenek’s attention was solely on the woman. The man continued, “I am Darmik, and this is my wife, Rema.”

  Darmik and Rema. As in the emperor and empress of Emperion? No, there was no way the emperor and empress were standing in front of him. However, he’d never heard of anyone else having those names. What was he supposed to do? Bow? Drop to a knee? He had no idea. And why would the emperor and empress be here, in his home?

  “Would you please give us a moment?” Darmik asked Nathenek.

  His father nodded and went into his bedroom, leaving Savenek alone with Darmik and Rema. What the hell?

  “Please have a seat,” Darmik said. He removed his cape and sat on the chair.

  Savenek glanced at the woman still concealed by her cape.

  “I’m sorry,” Rema said. “I didn’t expect this to be so hard.” She untied her cape and removed it. She was the opposite of her husband and had blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and pale white skin. After setting her cape on the back of the chair, she came closer to Savenek, examining him. “You’re taller than I thought you’d be.”

  He didn’t know what to say to that, so he sat on the sofa and waited for them to explain what they were doing there. Maybe they were going to send him on a mission. Maybe he would be the one to avenge the princess’s death. Although, he didn’t think either of those options were likely to happen.

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said, hoping that was an appropriate thing to say.

  Rema sat on the sofa next to him. She reached out and took hold of his hands. He flinched, not expecting her to touch him, but she held on firmly. Why was the empress touching him so casually?

  “I don’t know how to tell you this so I’m going to start at the beginning.” Rema took a deep breath and looked directly into Savenek’s eyes. “I gave birth to twins sixteen years ago. Shortly after they were born, someone in my own castle tried to murder them. I knew I had to do something. I am first the empress of Emperion. My job is to protect my people, even if that means I must sacrifice my own happiness. Our kingdom cannot survive without an heir. At the time, I had only been sitting on the throne for a little over a year.” She squeezed Savenek’s hands. “I decided to separate my children. I kept the one born first, a girl, at the castle and raised her as the crown heir. The second born twin, a boy, was sent away to be raised by a trusted friend.”

  Savenek wondered why she was telling him such personal information. What did any of this have to do with him?

  Rema took another deep breath. “My dear friend, Nathenek, had just lost his wife and baby in childbirth.”

  What was Rema saying? It became hard to breathe.

  “I brought my son, Savenek, here and asked Nathenek to raise him as his own. To love him as his own. The idea was that if something ever happened to my firstborn, Allyssa, I would still have an heir. Emperion would survive.” Tears spilled down her cheeks.

  Darmik leaned forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “Not a day has gone by when we haven’t thought of you.”

  “I don’t understand,” Savenek said, his voice cracking. They couldn’t mean that he was their son. The idea was too far-fetched. It made no sense. Nathenek was his father. He didn’t know these people in front of him.

  “Our daughter, Allyssa, has been brutally murdered,” Darmik said, his voice laced with unsuppressed fury. “Before I march into Russek and make them pay for what they did, I need to bring my son home.”

  “I’m not your son.” He shook his head, unable to process what they were saying.

  “You are our son. And you are going to be the crown prince of Emperion. You need to be crowned immediately. Once that is done, I’m leaving for the front lines. But I won’t go until your place in our family is established and the line is secure.”

  Savenek was a member of the royal family? A prince? He leaned back against the so
fa, staring up at the ceiling. He didn’t know what to think. Nathenek had raised him as a son, loved him as a son, and yet lied to him his entire life? His real parents had tossed him away in order to protect the royal line? And now that the princess was dead, they expected him to do whatever they said? “I need time to process this.” And to speak to Nathenek about everything. How could Nathenek not tell him?

  “There is no time,” Darmik said. “Your sister is dead. We leave now.”

  Sister? He’d had a twin sister? One he had never known about and now that the Russek king had murdered her, he would never have the opportunity to know her.

  His entire life had been a lie. An illusion. A deception.

  “There will be plenty of opportunities for us to talk. I’m sure you’re confused, upset, maybe even furious. But we are on the brink of war. I am the commander of the Emperion army. And you, Savenek, are now next in line. I need you to take your place in our family, in our kingdom, and to do your duty.” He stood, his presence overpowering and intimidating. “I’m actually surprised you’re taking this so well.”

  “I’m not taking this well,” Savenek replied.

  “Your sister would be screaming and throwing things at me by now.”

  Rema stood. “I’ve always wanted to come and get you. To bring you back to the castle where you belong. But I believed allowing you to live here, growing up free from the confines of the crown, was a good life. I hate to take this life away from you. The role we are asking you to step into is not easy. You will be a servant to your people.”

  “Is that what the tattoo on my hip is?” he asked, everything starting to fall into place.

  “It is,” Rema replied. “I have an identical one on my shoulder. From birth to death, we are linked by blood.”